62 replies to this topic

[Debbie]

Went into Gumbet yesterday, went to look at a new Gym thats just been refurbished right next door to Sue's place (those of you who frequent Gumbet will know where I mean) its right on the main road that goes through Gumbet. Dolmuş route where a lot of the bars and restaurants are..the gym is great by the way, brand new sauna, hamam, jacuzzi and relaxation lounge, but its empty....

Just getting into Gumbet was a minefield on its own, the main Duel carriageway from Bodrum through on the Turgutreis road is being worked on from the Amphitheatre onwards, apparently they have to meet up with the road works just as you pass the main roundabout into gumbet (Oasis one) so looks like they will have to take the road up around the roundabout to meet....

As you pass from the roundabout onto the top road of Gumbet all the road is up there and massive holes in the middle of the road. The Dolmuş has to go around on any back street it can find.... we got to where you normaly get off at the windmill (My Frogs) no chance the bus turns right just before .... all the road and the two lttie islands that were in front of MR Frogs is gone and a great mound of dirt and soil are in their place...and the roads are just up every where....

Apparently holiday makers due out in the next couple of weeks have been warned about the mess and have been re-located to differant hotels ....

I commented to sue that Bodrum is fairly busy even now with new tourists here for Easter and how much money Gumbet have lost due to all the huge amount and constant building work .... Gumbet was like a ghost town... but who would want to venture down to Sue's for her famous English fish & chips faced with the site in front of her restaurant....

I've incl some pics for you to judge yourself

G]







here are a couple more pics... it would only let me upload 2

[Abi]

Blimey Debbie it all looks a bit dire but thanks for posting the photos and giving uptodate info. I know Turkish workman can work at an amazing pace when pushed but don't think they are up to performing miracles. Very sad as it will have a bad impact on the area and a lot of business's are going to suffer until it is complete.

[sunny]

Thanks for posting those pics Debbie. It's not good news for businesses there of for the people who have booked holidays in the area over the next few weeks (months??).

I wonder who organised and instigated the work this late on in the year, the Belediye or the Government?
I've heard in the local area that the Government are using planes to check on what beach clubs are doing in preparation for the season.

[JK1]

Oh heck it looks a bit of a mess. Town planning doesn't seem to be one of their strong points. It was the same in Datca a couple of years ago. They made a complete pigs ear of the town but now a couple of years later it's starting to look very nice. It must be difficult for the traders in that area though.

[sunonmars]

Drove through today, talk about looking like a large bomb had gone off..............They have 3 and 1/2 weeks deadline apparently.

Good luck , they gonna need it.

[jakkigers]

Thanks for that Debbie. When we were out there in October, several of our friends who have businesses in Gumbet told us about the plans - even so, I don't think even they expected this wholesale demolition. I;ve seen the plans for the future of Gumbet and they look really good - though I would have thought it would take quite some time to get to the finished article. Let's just hope they haven't spoiled the tourist trade in Gumbet by then. Did you get down to the beach - has much been done there?

We fly out on 26 April and will be interested to see what's been finished - if anything!! Luckily our house is well away from the centre although by the sound if it, we may have to take a detour to get there.

I really do feel sorry for those holidaymakers sent out to Gumbet now. Mind you, I really do think tour operators shouldn't send them out until the beginning of May when the season actually starts. Even without all the current building work, Gumbet can look pretty much like a ghost town from the end of October to the end of April. When we were over there in the last week in October last year, we met a couple who had just flown out - they were gutted to find most places closed and very few people there.

I've just been chatting to a friend of mine in Gumbet who's due to start work at the Jasmine restaurant on 1 May. I asked him if more work would be done - he said he would like to think a lot of the work would be finished in May - but wouldn't make any promises LOL!!

Anyway, only two and a half weeks until we get there and can see things for ourselves. Please do keep us updated until we get there. Cheers!

Jak xx

[Yalides]

No wonder people are choosing to use all inclusive hotels these days.

[jakkigers]

Well I can understand why some people choose AI - fixed budget, kids wanting drinks all day, ect but to my mind, so much is missed if you go all inclusive ... and it's killing some of the smaller businesses with people staying in their complexes to drink, eat, etc. On a personal level, I would hate to go AI in Turkey - I feel that I would have missed so much of the feeling of the place and not made as many friends as I have over there. Even before we had our own place in Turkey, I really enjoyed staying in a small and friendly hotel on a B&B basis so that we could get out and about and experience some of the real Turkey behind the resorts.

Jak xx

[sunny]

I agree with you Jak. Before I came to live in T I always did B&B so that you could go out and get to know places better.
If I was a tourism minister I would ban all inclusive holidays as it kills local trade.

[maz]

oh my, what a mess it all looks! thanks for the photo.s, i did hear from a friend in gumbet that she had had no internet for ages due to the upheavel but never in my mind did i imagine just how much work had been done and was being done!
i feel sorry for all the people living there at the moment and of course holiday makers who are there now - all though i do agree that tour operators should not send people till begininng of season in may.
i am coming out on 17th may for two weeks and staying at the turihan hotel, on the beach, and my friend is staying at the hotel sultan, which i dont know where abouts it is so i can't say if its by any work being done? i found the whole place, people and weather to be really enjoyable, so thats why i wanted to come back but as yet i have had no word from my tour operator, thompson, about the major work being done! i think i might have to go into shop and find out as like another person on here who's due out at end of may, i have 2 jobs and work n save hard for my hols so i dont really want to sit on a beach and listen to building work being done with drills n so on going on all day! i know and feel very sorry for people there but i dont know what to do for best now either as i just LOVE gumbet and wouldnt really know where else to go so any suggestions would be really helpful.
thanks maz

Edited by maz, 14 April 2010 - 04:21 PM.

[jakkigers]

I think the Sultan is the Bagevleri Sultan Hotel and if it is, it's at the opposite end of Gumbet from the Turihan but not far. If you know where the Cafe de Colombia is, then it's almost opposite there. Hope that helps.

Jak xx

[jozsika]

G'day,


Thanks Debbie for the photos.

On my way to home (Yalıkavak) from the Bodrum airpoth through Torba-Gündogan I was

horrified!

My concern was the lack of security signs-barriers to the up to 2 meter deep roadsıde

excavations etc.

Suddenly I regretted to sell my 4X4 to get a more "comfortable" car.

Mahmut Kocadon ( head honcho of Bodrum Municipality) said that Bodrum is going to look like a

construction site for the next 2 years and and pleaded for the patience of the residents-tourist

etc.

PATİENCE MY

Lucky the road from Yalıkavak to Metro and Kıpa is still intact.


Nothing can be done but wait & endure.

Maybe I should buy an ATV for shopping! (does anyone selling one?)



Regards,

[maz]

I think the Sultan is the Bagevleri Sultan Hotel and if it is, it's at the opposite end of Gumbet from the Turihan but not far. If you know where the Cafe de Colombia is, then it's almost opposite there. Hope that helps.

Jak xx

many thanks jakkigers for the info, it does help in the fact that she'll be opposite end to me and if i remember corectly, it'll prob be easier to get to by going round beach path?
has much work been done since mondays photo's? what i'm concerened about is mainly the noise and dust, as both my friend and i are happy to sit on the beach all day but as we're both only doing b&b as i normally like trying out all the local resturants, i worried they wont be open or hard to get to as i have a bad back anyway and dont fancy falling down some huge hole! lol
what would you do if it were you going over for holidays???
just rang THOMSON and they say all work will be done in time for start of season! if i want to make any changes i have to pay - unless when everything opens and if their told about probs THEN they MAY contact us to assess the situation
many thanks maz

Edited by maz, 15 April 2010 - 08:46 PM.

[jakkigers]

Hi Maz, while I am typing this reply, I am also talking to my friend who lives and works in Gumbet. He will be working in the Jasmine Restaurant this year and starts work on 1 May. He says that he thinks most bars and restaurants will be open. I asked him about the roads and he said that they are saying they hope to have most of the main ones finished by the beginning of May. So that's some fairly hopeful news ...

Jak xx

[maz]

many thanks jak, you have put my mind at rest and at least i will hopefully get a better nights sleep now that i've read yr reply. i have been on this site for hours, reading old posts and i laughed till i cried when i read about the mosquito blog? if thats what there called. i'll defo try and get some blue avon skin so soft to bring out with me....
how long are you staying out there for this time as if your still there in may, 17th i fly out, then i'd love to meet up for a chat, as i.m staying at turihan hotel right on the beach, so you or anyone else who likes a good ole chat, are more than welcome to join me on one of their supper sun loungers!

i also saw the blog about the new market place being built? have they started or finished this yet as no one had recently updated it. i can see why some of the work needed doing, but i just hope that they haven't ruined the "feel" about the town which is what i feel in love with and why i wanted to return.
maz

ps if anyone who lives there wanted anything brought out which they cant buy there let me know as i have a big tesco extra just down the road so anyone wanting any marmite just let me know

[sunny]

Glad you're feeling a bit happier with jak's reply. Hopefully, as he says tha main roads will be finished.
Thanks for the offer,that's very kind of you. I'm the Marmite addict on the forum but unfortunately I'm up in Cesme, quite a long way away.

I hope you have a great holiday.

[maz]

I think the Sultan is the Bagevleri Sultan Hotel and if it is, it's at the opposite end of Gumbet from the Turihan but not far. If you know where the Cafe de Colombia is, then it's almost opposite there. Hope that helps.

Jak xx

when i came last year, i got friendly with a older couple who had found a little "greasy spoon" cafe, which all the locals used - is this the cafe you mean if not does anyone know what its called and if its still there? i love trying different cafe's and restaraunts any as we're only doing b&b, (the best way in turkey i think) so if anyone can recommend any good, reasonably priced places, please let me know. i tried sue's fish and chips and they were really lovely! making my mouth water at the thought. lol

[jakkigers]

Not sure which is the greasy spoon you were told about - but if you go up the road past the Windmill restaurant towards the Oasis centre, there's quite a lot of more traditional Turkish places up there where the food is really good.

Not far from the Turihan is the Serhan Hotel and their food is really good. Bizim Ev restaurant (near the Greenhouse apartments) is also good and if you like Indian food, try the Indian restaurant next to the Queens apartments (their £10 buffet is really good and filling).

If you're out in Bodrum, there's a little shop where you can get soup and bread - it's up the side road near the bus station (stand with your back to the bus station, facing the sea and walk round the side up towards the entrance to the indoor market and it's across the road from there).

There's also the Kismet lokanta but it's hard to describe where it is - it's at the back of Gumbet (near our house) and I think it's only open at lunchtime but loads of Turkish people eat there. A taxi wuld get you there the first time though.

We go out on 26 April and stay for 10 weeks, come home for 8 weeks and then go back out for another 9 weeks - hooray, can't wait (hope this volcano ash has moved by a week on Monday).

Hopefully we can meet up for a chat - if I don't see you on a sunlounger neear the Turihan, you can always catch me in Cheers/Mascot bar/restaurant (it's our local in Gumbet) which isn't far from your hotel.

Jak xx

[maz]

hi jak, yes i know serhan hotel as thats where i stayed in sept, half board and it was lovely, only fault i had was being on my own was the tiny room! but everything else inc staff were great, one chap AYDIN even found me a huge mug for my coffee in the morning and brought it out especially for me everyday. i just prefered the location of turihan as "my room" is on the corner and over looks the pool and sea plus has a bath. what more could i ask for - weather????
lol
i'll be the one on the sunlounger with -- a parrot towel
i love trying out the different turkish restaraunts and dont mind putting on a few pounds. he he

[Debbie]

Hi All....... Went into Gumbet yesterday.... I must say its looks almost the same if not worse in some areas.... but that could be a good sign that things are moving forward, they do say that things get worse before they get better..... the locals have been told it will be finished for 15th May...hummmmm questionable I'd say....

I'm incl some pics I took, the first two are just as you come into Gumbet where the Windmill is on your right, looking down towards Bar Street.... this was a slight improvement in last time I was there....what the hell that wooden structure is in front of Mystery Bar I dont know..... still long way to go...


The next couple are from Sue's place again looking up and down the main road.... this looks worse than before, but you can see they are filling in the road now.... its just that there is so much to to do to 'Finish Off' footpaths, road surface etc etc.........and normaly at this time of year the locals are in getting their businesses up and ready.... simple sprucing up and erecting sign's etc.....but theres no one around because you cant even get to most of the places to do anything...


I've incl looking down Bar Street... which does look better but still needs the tops of the roads finishing and all the footpath areas.... before the streets down there were cobbled, not sure what there going to lay this time around.... cobbles take much time to lay apposed to tarmac or something, but they do look better and add to the character...

Took some pics of beach area which although there is a bit or work and few piles of dirt here and there I should think that it will be cleared withing a couple of weeks......

Any questions feel free to ask I'll do my best to answer....

LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM